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Donald Sterling tells NBA he doesn't plan to pay fine

Banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling does not plan to pay the $2.5 million fine levied by the NBA, Sterling's attorney wrote in a letter to the NBA, a person with first-hand knowledge of the letter told USA TODAY Sports.

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Donald Sterling tells NBA he doesn't plan to pay fine

USA Today, news source 9:14 p.m. EDT May 15, 2014

Donald Sterling, shown here in a file photo, only made his situation worse in an interview he gave to CNN's Anderson Cooper. Sterling was banned for life from the NBA two weeks ago for racist comments he made in an audio recorded that surfaced.(Photo: (Photo: Robyn Beck, Getty Images))

(USA TODAY) -- Banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling does not plan to pay the $2.5 million fine levied by the NBA, Sterling's attorney wrote in a letter to the NBA, a person with first-hand knowledge of the letter told USA TODAY Sports.

The person requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the letter, which was sent on Thursday.

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The attorney, Maxwell M. Blecher, also wrote that Sterling does warrant "any punishment at all" for his racist comments that were recorded in a conversation with a female friend and made public.

Blecher, a well-known antitrust attorney, also contends that the fine violates Sterling's due process rights.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on April 29 fined Sterling $2.5 million and issued him a lifetime ban. Silver also said he will urge other owners to force a sale of the Clippers and do everything in his power to ensure that.